Typewriting machine



March 14, 1933. -r

TYPEWRITING MACHINE FiledApril 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 14, 1933. L. E. LENTZ 1,901,398

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1928 2 Sheet-Shet 2 Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFI'CE,

LAWRENCE E. LEN'IZ, 0F

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, NEW YORK, N. Y.,.A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TYPEWBI'IING MACHINE Application filed April 18,

The present invention relates generally to portable typewriting machines, and more particularly to means suitable for use by typewriter dealers for finishing such machines in various colors.

The present invention is illustrated in connection with the Underwood portable typewriter. The typewriting mechanism is mounted on an inner unfinished main frame. There is provided a mask or dress constructed for easy attachment to any type-. writing unit by simple fastening means. All of the parts of a typewriter-dress are finished in the same color and are simple in design and easy to manufacture.

It is a feature of the present invention to construct the rear paper-table to include a lower and an upper section, and to apply a colored or dress finish to the upper section alone, which is the only portion of the rear paper-table that is in full view. The lower section of the paper-table'is permanently attached to the platen-carriage to form a part of the typewriting unit. Simple means are provided whereby upper sections of rear paper-tables may be interchangeably fiastened to the lower sectionoi' any typewriting unit.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typewriting unit of an Underwood portable typewriting machine and a dress therefor, the difierent parts of thedress being shown with associated fastening elements in disassembled relation with respect to each other and the typewritingunit, and positioned for illustrating how each dresspart may be quickly attached to the typewriting unit.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, front to rear, of the'structure shown 7 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rear paper-table of a typewriter employed in praticingthe present invention. The table is made in two sections which are shown in disassembled relation to each other. a The present invention is illustrated in carrying 19%. Serial No. 270,867.

connection with an Underwood portable typewritmg machine in which type 10 strike agamst a platen 11 upon operation of keys 12 which are operatively connected to the types by usual instrumentalities not shown. The depression bar, not shown, which is eflective to letterspa'ce a usual platen-carriage 13 one step to the left. The universal bar operates a ribbon-feeding mechanism including ratchetwheels 14L to'feed a ribbon 15 from one of two usual spools 16 and wind it onto the other spool, the spools being mounted on usual ribbon-spool shaftsl'i. The platencarriage and the ribbon-feeding mechanism are mounted on a usual shift-frame generally designated as '18.

For inserting a work-sheet W between the platen 11 and usual feed-rolls 19, it is a feature of the present invention to'provide a rear paperetable, generally. which, for a reason to presently appear, is constructed. in two sections, a lower. section 21 and an upper section 22. The lower section may'have integral perforated flaps 23 to which may be fastened upreach ing paperguide fingers 24. Integral forwardly-extending lugs 25 on the lower section have concave bearing portions 26 in which is journaled a lateral shaft carrying the lower feed-rolls 19. The lower section 21 may be p p of any one of the keys 12 operates mechanism including a universal" designated as 20, 7

pivotally mounted on two depending perforated ears 28, one disposed at each end of the section for engaging with pin-carrying brackets 29, which are mounted on a usual cross-plate 30, the latter being laterally movable on usual rail-elementsfil for the platen-carriage 13. To urge the feed-rolls normally against the platen, compression springs 32 are seated on the cross-plate 30 and press upwardly against the under side of the lower papertable section 21 forwardly from the pivotears 28. The construction of the above-mentioned portions of the lower paper-table section 21, and the parts associated directly therewith, may be substantially the same as disclosed in the co-pending application of William. A. Dobson, Serial No.'64,54=O, filed upper edge. The depth of the offset is just enough to bring the forward face of the upper section'22 flush with the forward face of the lower section so as to form a smooth joint (Figure 2).

It is a feature of the pre ent invention to provide easily operable means for attaching the upper section 22 to the lower section 21. In carrying out this feature of fastening the two sections 21 and 22 together, two integral upreaching tongues 41' are provided on the upper set back portion of the lower section 21 a short distance above the offset 40, one

, tongue bein dis osed ad'acent each end of e: b p

the paper-table. Two integral rearwardlyextending straps 42 are formed in the sheetmetal body of the upper section for engagement around the tongues 41. A slight lengthwise concave curve is provided in the section 22, which requires that the section be straightened for the straps 42 to slip over the tongues 41. Upon releaseof the upper flexible section, after being straightened, it will tend to resume its curved form, which will bind the straps on the tongues tightly, and will be effective to hold the upper section securely in'engagement with the lower section. a

For releasing the feed-rolls 19, the forward portion of the paper-table section 22 is swung down by instrumentalities including an upwardly-extending member 42 centrally disposed bet-ween the endsof the paper-table and integrally joined to the upper set back portion of the section 21, a rock shaft 44 journaled in the usual end plates of the carriage 13, an upreaching arm 45 on said shaft opposite the paper-table member 42 a laterally-extending pin 46 fast in the upper end of the arm 45 and a friction reducing roller 47 on the pin for engaging against the rear side of the member 42*. An upwardly-extending lever 48, which terminates in a finger-piece 49, is fastened on the rock-shaft 44, adjacent the right end plate of the carriage 13, and, by convenient forward movement of the finger-piece 49, the feed-rolls may be released at will.

The paper-table member 42 'is convexly curved toward the front of the machine and the convexly curved upper section 22 will fit closely'against the member 42 (Figure 2). It will be noted that the upwardly-extending member 42 also serves as a fixed post or fulcrum against which the flexible,

curved table-section 22 may be conveniently held in a straightened condition when slipping the straps 42 over the tongues 41. Also, after the straps are engaged about the tongues and the section 22 is released from the straightening force, the member 42 serves to hold the central portion of the section 22 from warping rearwardly out of line with the upper portion of the lower section 21. i I

A usual cup 50, engaging around each ribbon-spool 16, may be fastened by three screws 51 to lugs 52 on the shift-frame 18, which lugs have tapped holes 53 for receiving the screws. Each cup 50 may have a usual guide-slot 54 for guiding theribbon 15 onto and off the spools 16. I

The parts .of the typewriting mechanism of the machine are usually supported on a usual inner main frame 55, having rubber-shod depending'foot elements 56. In practising the present invention the frame 55 and the above-described parts, except the rear papertable section 22 and the ribbon-spool cups 50, are ordinarily assembled at the factory as a unit, called in this disclosure a typewriting unit.

Dresses may be interchangeably secured to any typewriting unit by simple fastening means which can be quickly and easily applied by any. dealer even though he is not skilled in typewriter construction.

A colored dress for an Underwood portable typewriter may include the following parts: the upper section 22 of the rear paper-table, the ribbon-spool cups 50, a usual front plate 60 fastened by inreaching screws 61 to the front of the frame 55, and a main frame cover or housing 62, which engages closely around the frame 55 at the back and I sides thereof. For fastening the frame cover 62 to the frame 55 two integral perforated lugs 63 are each positioned for engagement with a superposed lug 64 integrally joined to the frame 55 and having a tapped hole 65 for receiving an inreaching screw 66, which may be conveniently inserted by turning the typewriter-frame 55 on its side. An inreaching'screw 67 positioned at the rear of the frame-cover 62 passes through a hole therein and is threaded into a tapped hole in the frame 55. The construction of the frame-cover 62, the frame 55, and the 1nstrumentalities for fastening them together may be substantially the same as set forth in the patent to lVilliam A. Dobson, No. 1,614,604, dated January 18, 1927, except that the fibrous pad between the frames, shown in Dobsons patent, may be omitted in the present-invention.

It will be noted that each of the elements of the typewriter dress except the papertable section 22 may be interchangeably fastened to the typewriting unit by easily-inserted screws. As explained above,.the sec- Gil tion 22 is easily fastened to the typewriting unit without screws. It can therefore be readily seen that a typewriter dress, according to the present invention, may be easily and quickly detachably fastened to a typewriting unit by a person who is not askilled typewriter mechanic.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A paper-table for typewriting machines, including a flexible upper and a lower section, and means associated with both sections for securing thev same laterally in position, including in the lower section a central member and amember at each end thereof to engage the upper section when flexed, to retain the upper section in position on the lower section bythe formers own resiliency. I

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-carriage and a paper-table su'iported thereon, of an extension thereto curved normally longltudinally throughout its length, and means associated with said table and extension for securing the same together when the extension is flexed to a rectilinear condition. I

3. In a typewriting machine,the combination with a platen-carriage and a lower paper-table section supported thereon, upper paper-table section curved longi-V tudinally throughout its length, and a tongue-and-socket connection with the lower and upper table sections for securing the same together when the upper section is flexed to a rectilinear condition.

4. A paper-table for typewriting machines, including a longitudinally straight lower section, and a detachable upper sec? tion, curved and of uniform width throughout its length, and upwardly-extending projections on said lower section for engaging the upper section to retain it rectilinearly 1n position on the lower section.

5. In a typewriting machine having a platen and a'platen-carriage, the combination of lower and upper paper-guiding sections, and means for mounting said lower section upon the carriage, said lower section curving forwardly under the platen and having an offset portion upon its upper edge, said upper section fitted in said ofiset to be flush with the forward face of the lower section so as to form a smooth joint, said lower section having upwardly-extending tongues formed upon said offset portion, and said upper section having formed therein depressed straps embracing said tongues.

6. In a typewriting machine having a platen and a tion of lower and upper paper-guiding sections, and means for mounting said lower curving forwardly under and said upper tongues, said of an. 1

associated said lower section the platen and having an ofiset portion upon its upper edge, said upper section fitted in said offset to be flush with the forward face of the lower section so as to form a smooth joint, said lower section having upwardly-extendingtongues formed upon saidoifset portion, section having formed therein depressed straps embracing said lower section being straight, and said upper section being curved but sprung to straight condition and so held by means of the binding action thereon of said tongues, straps and offset portion, the upper section being securely held in engagement section upon the carriage,

with the lower section and wholly supported thereon.

7. In a typewriting machine having a platen and a platen-carriage, the combination of lower and upper paper-guiding sections, meansfor mounting said lower section upon the carriage, said lower section {curving forwardly under the platen and having an offset portion upon its upper edge, said upper section fitted in said offset to be flush with the forward face of the lower section so as toform a smooth joint, said lower section having upwardly-extending tongues formed upon said offset portion, and said upper section having formed there in depressed straps embracing said tongues, and a support extending upwardly midway of said tongues to brace the middle of the upper section of the shelf and co-op'erate with said tongues to maintain itin flexed an offset portion upon its upper edge, said upper section fitted in said offset to be flush with the forward face of the lower section so as to form a smooth joint, said lower section having upwardly-extending tongues formed upon said offset portion, and said upper section having formed 1 therein depressed straps embracing said tongues, a support extending upwardly midway of said tongues to brace the middle of the upper section of the shelf and co-operate with said tongues to maintain it in flexed straight'condition, said lower section being pivoted upon the platen-carriage, and means also mounted upon the platen-carriage to engage said supporting arm to rock the paper-shelf and its rolls away from the platen.

LAWRENCE E. LENTZ.

platen-carr1age, the combina- 

